In a recent ruling, Magistrate Chrisinta Chavrimootoo of the Port-Louis District Court has eased a condition of conditional release imposed on Ashik Allysaheb Ameersaheb Jagai. This decision allows Jagai to contact four witnesses in connection with the Financial Crimes Commission's (FCC) investigation. Jagai, son of former police superintendent Ashik Jagai, was arrested on September 3, 2025, and provisionally charged with three counts related to assets allegedly representing the proceeds of a crime.
The assets in question include a Ford Raptor valued at Rs 2.87 million, a BMW X5 valued at Rs 4.738 million, and two plots of land in Balaclava and Mare-Longue, valued at Rs 2 million and Rs 4 million, respectively. Upon his release on bail, Jagai was initially barred from having any direct or indirect contact with suspects or witnesses linked to the case. The FCC had expressed concerns about potential collusion and the integrity of evidence.
Jagai had previously requested a relaxation of this condition in October 2025, but the court had declined, allowing the FCC time to gather witness statements independently. Since then, the investigation has progressed, with several witness statements recorded and verifications conducted. Jagai claims to have made seven statements to the FCC and expressed a willingness to cooperate further.
However, Jagai argued that he needed to consult his accountant and broker to answer certain questions accurately. The FCC was concerned that allowing Jagai to contact witnesses before confronting their statements could enable him to tailor his account to match theirs. Nevertheless, the magistrate found no evidence that Jagai had directly attempted to interfere with witnesses or had the intention to do so.
The court acknowledged the complexity of the investigation, particularly the money laundering aspect, and noted that an associate of Jagai had attempted to contact a witness. However, there was no indication that Jagai was behind this attempt. Given the low risk, the court limited the easing of the condition to allow Jagai to contact four specific individuals in writing.
The four individuals Jagai is permitted to contact are Ajmal Toorabally for accounting documents, Doomun for import documents, Yashveer Teeluckdharry regarding their restaurant's operations, and Polin for work-related matters. This contact must be done in writing, and the court has maintained strict oversight.
The decision reflects a balance between allowing Jagai to cooperate with the investigation and preventing potential interference with witnesses. The FCC's concerns about the integrity of the investigation have been weighed against Jagai's right to a fair process.
Key points
- The court has eased a condition of Allysaheb Jagai's conditional release, allowing him to contact four witnesses in writing.
- Jagai was arrested in September 2025 and charged with three counts related to assets allegedly linked to a crime.
- The easing of the condition is limited and subject to strict oversight to prevent interference with witnesses.
